Politics of Security and the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon:Politicization, Militarization, and Pathways to Sustainable Peace and Stability in Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33445/psssj.2025.6.2.4Keywords:
Anglophone Crisis, Governance, Conflict Resolution, Human Security, Violent ExtremismAbstract
In post-independence Africa, issues of insecurity, identity, and governance critically affect nation-state stability, exemplified by Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis. Originating in 2016 with historical background, peaceful protests by lawyers and students against marginalization in the Northwest and Southwest regions, the movement has since 2017 escalated into a prolonged armed conflict. The Cameroonian government’s tendency to politicize grievances and emphasize militarized responses has deepened mistrust and heightened tensions. Public discourse remains fragmented, largely ignoring root causes such as governance failures, socio-economic disparities, and cultural marginalization. This analysis examines how Cameroon’s security policies, influenced by postcolonial state-building that views dissent as a threat to national unity, inadvertently foster insecurity. Utilizing securitization theory and human security frameworks, the study explores how these strategies intensify, rather than alleviate, conflict. Central questions focus on Cameroon’s security culture and potential methods to replace fear-driven governance with sustainable peace strategies. The paper employs an interdisciplinary approach combining political theory, socio-spatial evaluation, and conflict analysis, situating the crisis within broader identity-related insecurities in post-colonial Africa. Advocating inclusive governance, meaningful dialogue, effective decentralization, and prioritization of human security, the study proposes alternatives to militarization. Aligning with frameworks like the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and UN Sustainable Development Goals, it provides actionable insights for peacebuilding within postcolonial contexts. Through these measures, Cameroon could pave the way for lasting peace and stability, serving as a model for similar challenges across Africa.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Gabriel Cyrille Nguijoi, Wilfred Gabsa Nyogbet, Saron Obia Messembe
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